Tokyo – NBC Universal (NBCU) is continuing to expand by acquiring Jupiter Telecommunications' subsidiary JSBC2 and launching Sci Fi channel on J:COM. The deal is expected to close in April 2008; terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed. Under the agreement, NBCU will acquire 100% of the equity of JSBC2, which holds the broadcasting license for Reality TV on SkyPerfecTV in Japan. In addition, NBCU’s Global Networks division will launch Sci Fi Channel in Japan in Spring 2008. … [Read more...] about NBCU takes Jupiter’s JSBC2, prepares to launch Sci Fi Channel in Japan
Content Protection
Idols franchise goes regional in Asia
FremantleMedia’s Idols franchise will go regional with the first ever Asian Idol. To be held in Indonesia, the singing talent competition show will be jointly produced by Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI) and FremantleMedia to premiere on Nov 24 from 2000 – 2130 hours on RCTI. Asian Idol is the culmination of the Idol searches in Indonesia, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, and will feature the winners and one judge from each country. Ata and Daniel, hosts … [Read more...] about Idols franchise goes regional in Asia
Alfred Haber closes deals for 2007 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
New Jersey – Alfred Haber Distribution, Inc. (AHDI) has sold 2007 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to Network Ten (Australia), STAR (Southeast Asia), Televisa (Mexico), CanWest Global (Canada), Turner (Latin America), Telad (Israel) , SBS (Belgium), TV2 (Denmark), and ITC (Iceland). 2007 is the third consecutive year that AHDI has exclusively distributed the show. The one-hour 2007 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, to be taped at the Kodak Theater on Nov. 15 and broadcast on CBS on … [Read more...] about Alfred Haber closes deals for 2007 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
Asia Media Festival set to make a bigger splash in 2007
Singapore – The Asia Media Festival 2007 (AMF 2007), the regional business platform for the media industry to be held Nov. 14 – Dec. 4 in Singapore, is set to grow this year with a marked increase in participation and the debut of several new events. Hosted by the Media Development Authority of Singapore and organized by Reed Exhibitions in collaboration with key industry partners, AMF 2007 is expecting 5,400 trade participants, 16% up on 2006. Among the new events will be the Apollo … [Read more...] about Asia Media Festival set to make a bigger splash in 2007
Pay-TV piracy deprives industry of $US1.54 billion for 2007
Hong Kong – Piracy cost the regional pay-TV industry $I.54 billion in lost revenue in the past 12 months, up from $US1.13 billion in 2006, according to the annual survey by CASBAA and Standard Chartered Bank. Covering Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Macau and new addition Pakistan, the report also estimates at least $213 million has been lost in unpaid taxes across the region this year. Lee Beasley, Head of Media and … [Read more...] about Pay-TV piracy deprives industry of $US1.54 billion for 2007
Movies-on-demand stifled by technology
HOLLYWOOD movies are driving the on-demand business in Asia Pacific—a business that is still in its infancy. But the industry is being hamstrung by a complex array of technological and cost issues.Safeguarding content from piracy, bandwidth availability and billing issues are among the factors impeding Video-on-Demand and Subscription VOD services. “Network infrastructure capacity constraints and content protection remain the biggest obstacles for SVOD carriage,” says Caroline Wong, … [Read more...] about Movies-on-demand stifled by technology